“An Evening of Dance” will premiere at Richard Brunelle Performance Hall, 315 W. Fourteenth St, Davis, from 7 to 9 p.m. June 20 and 5 to 7 p.m. June 21. Tickets are available online and at the door. Photo courtesy of KC Baltz/Applegate Dance Company

DIXON, CA (MPG) - Stephanie Baltz and her family have lived in Dixon for 23 years. Originally raised in Arcadia, Baltz realized early on that she had two main passions: dance and history.

Alongside being the owner, operator and creative mind behind Tutus Etc., Baltz is also the interim director for Applegate Dance Company in Davis. Due to the early retirement of owner Lisa Applegate, Baltz has stepped in to direct the organization’s annual event, “An Evening of Dance.”

“This is the first time I have directed an entire performance. I didn’t plan to direct the whole show but I also knew the students needed to have something. I am 1,000 percent doing it for them. I know it will be a good show but I am nervous. It’s a new venture for me and it’s scary but I am sure the girls will be proud of it,” said Baltz.

Baltz has been with Applegate Dance Company since 2007, joining at the same time as her children, now adults, Garrett and Emily Baltz. Baltz began teaching classical ballet at Applegate in 2009. Her self-described dedication to art and history inspired her to start Tutus Etc. in 2011. Her business focuses on the production of professional-quality tutus, costumes and dance accessories. 

“For the ballet costumes I do, certain historical elements come into play,” said Baltz. “There are a lot of things you don’t think about, the little pieces that make a design come to life. I love doing research and creating historical pieces. My business has grown over the last couple of years; everything is designed and cut by me but I have a team for rhine-stoning and a couple of gals that help me sew.”

All costumes are made by hand and are produced on a seasonal basis. According to Baltz, she produces approximately 250 to 300 costumes per season. Spring is dedicated to historical costumes and fall is for dance competitions.

Baltz has had many students over the years, including Bethnay Kepner, a 17-year-old who has been with Applegate since 2015. Inspired by “Angelina Ballerina,” one of her favorite books growing up, she got into ballet and plans on majoring in dance at either University of California, Irvine or University of California, Los Angeles.

“I’m very excited for ‘An Evening of Dance’ because it’s taken so much work to get where we are. There will be some amazing ballet pieces, but also some contemporary pieces. My friends and I are choreographing one of the contemporary pieces and Baltz is choreographing the ballet,” said Kepner.

Kepner’s mother, Lori Kepner, is excited about the performance.

“We’re very proud of Bethany for her hard work and the return on investment that Applegate and Baltz have put into her. It is exciting to see her development,” said Lori Kepner.

Alongside more creative endeavors, Baltz serves her Dixon community by participating in events such as Dixon Montessori Charter School’s Pioneer Days, which is a fully immersive two-day historical experience for the school’s students and parents. Baltz works with students and parents from Dixon, Woodland, Davis and Vacaville.

“An Evening of Dance” will premiere at Richard Brunelle Performance Hall, 315 W. Fourteenth St, Davis, from 7 to 9 p.m. June 20 and 5 to 7 p.m. June 21. Tickets are available online and at the door. Standard ticket prices are $25 for adults and $20 for youth (under 18). Premium tickets are available for $30 and wing seats are available for $22.50.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit applegatedance.com or call 530-767-3777.